Blackbutt Reserve run by City of Newcastle is one of Newcastle’s best free days out and if you haven’t been in a while, you might be surprised by just how much there is to do. Spread across two reserves in New Lambton, this is the kind of place you can visit again and again without it ever getting old.
We’ve been coming to Blackbutt Reserve for years. It’s the kind of spot where the kids can watch a koala snooze in a gum tree, feed themselves at the café, burn off steam at the adventure playground and still beg to stay longer. For Newcastle families, it’s practically a rite of passage and for visitors, it’s one of the most authentic wildlife experiences you’ll find anywhere in regional NSW.
Whether you’re a local looking for a weekend activity or visiting Newcastle with kids, here’s everything you need to know to make the most of your visit.
P.S. Before you go, download and print our Newy with Kids Blackbutt Reserve Scavenger Hunt. It’s a few years old and was completed before the cafe and community space was built. Please note kiosk has been removed – Q3 answer is snake.
Jump to: Animals & Wildlife | Feeding Times | Carnley Reserve Playground | Richley Reserve | Café & Picnics | Walking Trails | Plan Your Visit | FAQs
Animals & Wildlife at Blackbutt Reserve
The wildlife exhibits are what most people come for and they don’t disappoint. A series of boardwalks make it easy to push a stroller and let young ones safely view the creatures up close in the enclosures. Older kids will love running up and down the boardwalks from one enclosure to another.
Blackbutt Reserve is home to four koalas, and seeing them up close in the central covered aviary (without the crowds or the cost of a zoo) is genuinely special. Head to the koala enclosure around 1.30–2pm to catch them at their most active, ahead of the 2pm feeding time.
Beyond the koalas, the reserve is home to kangaroos, emus, wombats, wallabies, possums, reptiles and a wide range of native birds. The covered bird aviary is worth a slow walk-through. It’s a hit with kids of all ages, particularly younger ones who haven’t encountered many birds up close.
When you leave the koala enclosure, head to the nearby paddock to spot kangaroos and emus roaming freely in the fenced area.
Animal Feeding Times
If you want to see the animals at their most active, plan your day around the feeding schedule. These times are the highlight for most kids:
- 10.30am — Wombat feeding
- 10.45am — Bird feeding
- 1.30pm — Nocturnal animal feeding
- 2.00pm — Koala feeding
Arriving at 10.15–10.30am and staying until after 2pm gives you the full experience. The wildlife exhibits are open daily from 10am to 4.30pm (closed Christmas Day, Good Friday and before 1pm on ANZAC Day).
Carnley Reserve: The Bower Bird Playground
After the animals, the Bower Bird Playground at Carnley Reserve is the natural next stop. Designed for children aged 2 to 10, it’s a solid all-rounder with a large climbing structure, roundabout, seesaw, group swing, two slides and musical instruments.
It’s well shaded and positioned close to the café and amenities block, which makes it a natural mid-visit pause. The playground sits in the Black Duck Area easy to find once you’re in the Carnley Avenue section of the reserve.
Richley Reserve
Richley Reserve is the second part of Blackbutt. You can either walk there (800 metres from Carnley) or drive around and park separately. It’s a leafy, bushland setting with picnic shelters, barbecues and walking trails, and noticeably quieter than the Carnley side.
The big drawcard here is the Richley Reserve Adventure playground — a 60-metre nature play space that’s a genuine step up from your average suburban playground. It’s a great playground that encourages nature play, adventure and risk-taking. Climbing towers, rope courses, a sandpit with a water tap and proper bush surroundings make it a firm favourite with kids who’ve outgrown the standard stuff.
We’ve covered it in full detail in our dedicated guide: Blackbutt Adventure Playground.
Café, Picnics & Barbecues
Hunger is never an issue at Blackbutt Reserve. The Blackbutt Café by Durks is located at Carnley Avenue and serves coffee, breakfast and lunch including kids’ meals.
There’s undercover seating, which makes it a good option on warmer days or if the weather turns.
If you’d rather bring your own, there are free electric barbecues dotted around both reserves. They’re push-button, provide around 20 minutes of cooking time and can’t be booked — just turn up and use them. Bring your food and make an afternoon of it.
Picnic shelters are available at both Carnley (6 shelters) and Richley (10 shelters). If you want to guarantee one for a birthday or group event, book ahead through Newcastle City Council. Current hire cost is $200, which includes a $150 non-refundable admin fee.
Walking Trails at Blackbutt Reserve
There are nine walking trails through Blackbutt Reserve, ranging from a quick stroll to a solid half-day walk. Trails are well signposted with names and distances marked at each major intersection.
From Carnley Reserve:
- Main Ridge Walk — 2.4km
- Rainforest Walk — 1.5km
- Walk to Richley Reserve — 800m
From Richley Reserve:
- Tall Trees Walk — 2.6km
- Forest Walk — 1.6km
- Walk to Carnley Reserve — 800m
On Saturday mornings, Blackbutt parkrun takes place here — a free 5km untimed run through the reserve. Fair warning: it’s hilly.
Plan Your Visit
Location: New Lambton, Newcastle NSW — 8.5km from Newcastle CBD. Enter via Carnley Avenue for the animals and Bower Bird Playground, or via Richley Reserve Road for the adventure playground.
Picnic facilities: Open 7am–7pm daily
Wildlife exhibits: Open 10am–4.30pm daily (closed Christmas Day, Good Friday and before 1pm on ANZAC Day)
Parking: $5/hour or $14/day. Pay at the on-site ticket machine or use the EasyPark app (recommended — you can add extra time remotely without heading back to your car).
Getting there by public transport: Possible but not straightforward. Bus route 25 stops at Orchardtown Road near Blamey Avenue — from there it’s a 10-minute walk to Richley Reserve or 15–20 minutes to the Carnley Avenue entrance. The closest train station is Kotara, which is a 2.8km walk to Carnley.
Baby and toddler facilities: The Carnley Avenue amenities block includes a Parents Room with family toilet, private breastfeeding space, baby change tables and a microwave and sink. Changing facilities are also available at Richley Reserve.
Dogs: Not permitted anywhere in the reserve.
Bikes and scooters: Not permitted within the reserve, including picnic areas and walking tracks.
Mosquitoes: Can be an issue in warmer months — pack repellent just in case.
Blackbutt Reserve is run by Newcastle City Council. For more information, visit the Blackbutt Reserve website.
FAQs About Blackbutt Reserve
Yes, entry to Blackbutt Reserve is free. Parking costs $5/hour or $14/day — pay at the on-site ticket machine or use the EasyPark app.
Picnic facilities are open 7am–7pm daily. Wildlife exhibits are open 10am–4.30pm daily, and are closed on Christmas Day, Good Friday and before 1pm on ANZAC Day.
Head to the koala enclosure around 1.30–2pm. Koala feeding takes place at 2pm, when they tend to be most active.
No. It is against regulations in New South Wales for members of the public to hold koalas. You can see them up close in the koala enclosure.
Yes. Free electric barbecues are available at both Carnley and Richley Reserves. They’re push-button with around 20 minutes of cooking time and cannot be booked in advance — first in, first served.
Yes, there’s an amenities block at Carnley Avenue. It features a Parents Room with a family toilet, a private room for breastfeeding mums, baby change tables and a microwave and sink for food or milk preparation. At Richley Reserve, there are changing facilities in the amenities block.
Yes — it’s a popular spot for kids’ parties. Picnic shelters can be booked through Newcastle City Council for $200, which includes a $150 non-refundable admin fee. There are 6 shelters at Carnley Reserve and 10 at Richley Reserve.
No, dogs are not permitted anywhere at Blackbutt Reserve.
No. Bikes and scooters are not permitted within the reserve, including around picnic areas and along walking tracks.
Blackbutt Reserve is in New Lambton, 8.5km from Newcastle CBD. The easiest way is by car. If you’re using GPS or directing a driver, specify which entrance you need — Carnley Avenue for the animals and Bower Bird Playground, or Richley Reserve Road for the adventure playground.
It really depends. Some years, the mosquitoes are an issue. Other years, not so much. Pack mosquito repellent just in case.
Looking for more Newcastle family days out? Check out our guide to free and low-cost things to do in Newcastle, the best Newcastle playgrounds for toddlers, or toddler activities in Newcastle.